My GPs does't work

[Richard Luscombe]

I have been advised my Adele Donald in customer services to contact you.
I'm pretty fed up that I'm having to do this, as I am a dissatisfied customer and would like someone to actually speak to, but I'm told this is the best I'm going to get.

My order number is 121567

In December I bought a Plam TX with Tom Tom. From the very beginning I had probelms getting it to work, as the GPS receiver just was not picling up the signal. After a few frustrating weeks of trying to contact anyone who could help me, and being pushed between yourselves, Tom Tom and palm and back again, I was eventually advised that it may need resetting, which meant letting the battery run right out, then topping it right up again. this seemd to sure it.

However, it is an ongoing problem. I only use it occassionally - most of the time I know where I'm going. But when I do need it, i need it to work reliably.

Today i left home at 7.15, to travel 100 odd miles to an address I was unfamiliar with. I turned on my GPS receiver, and it would not pick up the signal. My Palm was saying "no valid satellite signal" and the red light on the receiver was on constantly. I know when it is working, as the red light flashes.

I kept it on all morning, partly to see waht would happen, and partly to drain the battery. Low and behold, at 1.15 pm on my way home, when I was 15 minutes from home. it started flashing and picking up the signal!

This is not the first time this as happened and I have no confidence in this piece of equipment. I only use it occassionally, about once a fortnight, but then i expect it to work - its no good having it otherwise.

I'm very fed up and would like th equipment replaced, fixed or my money back

Richard Luscombe

[Charlie]

Welcome to our forums.
The first thing that i think of is if you are using the device so in-frequently then you are going to find it will take some time on order to achieve a fix. The reason for this is because when the receiver gets a fix it stores the satellite positions in memory, however the memory is only retained for a short time (couple of days) so the next time you go to use it the positions have been lost and need to be downloaded again.

The other thing i would think about is if your vehicle windscreen is blocking the signal. What make/model of vehicle do you use the system in?

The other thing i would recommend is that you ensure that you have exited the TomTom program properly by tapping on the EXIT APPLICATION button on the menu. If you do not then the connection with the receiver is interrupted and cannot be re-established properly without first resetting the PDA.

[Richard Luscombe]

Well, that's no good is it. I don't use it very frequently, as most of the time I know where I'm going. Where does it say in any of the sales info that you have to use the blessed thing every couple of days to make it work? That's no good to me. I need it to work once every couple of weeks and to work perfectly when I need it.

By the way, its not the windscreen. i don't think it is the way i'm exiting it either, as it eventually worked today and I hadn't reset anything.

Its just a pretty useless bit of kit for me if it doesn't work on the few days I really need it.

Please expalin how this can be fixed

Richard Luscombe

[Border_Collie]

If you use it rarely, the best thing to do is take it outside the evening before travelling and wait for a lock. If it hasn't been used for several days it can take 10 minutes or more. Once you have a lock, exit the programme and switch off.

Next day stand outside your car and get lock, probably only a minute or two, before setting up inside.

If your car is new'ish, there's a good chance you will have a heat reflective windscreen (athermic) and the signal will be reduced. By getting the lock first, outside the car, the reduced signal doesn't seem so important and even after travelling through a tunnel it will lock on quite quickly when you get to the other side.

Whatever you do, don't drive off before it locks on or you'll continue getting the problems you've mentioned.

[getsurfers]

Following on from the above post..

The GPS device retains it's last position. If you are not in the vecinity of the last lock, the device will have to find it's location. This is what takes the time as it has to update it's database, and work out it's location based on sats it can see, date time etc etc.

Even if you're not planning a route, it's good to run your GPS device as you drive around. Also good if you have speed camera POI ;-)

[Richard Luscombe]

I'm coming to the conclusion that a map is a bloody sight easier and more reliable. i don't want to faff around with a bit of kit every day on the off chance I might need it tomorrow - I'm not that sad.
Why can't i get any help on this from Total PDA by the way?

[getsurfers]

Originally Posted by Richard Luscombe

I'm coming to the conclusion that a map is a bloody sight easier and more reliable. i don't want to faff around with a bit of kit every day on the off chance I might need it tomorrow - I'm not that sad.

To some it may seem sad to use a GPS device when you know where you're going. BUT many of us use updated speed camera POI (which can change daily), so a valid reason for using nearly all the time. Maybe this may be of interest to you? After all, the police are become sneakier at where they hide, and also seem to be (from the forums at http://www.pepipoo.com/) less forgiving at even the smallest margins over the posted limit!

Back to your issues, I have recently returned from using my device in Germany. As the device wasn't where it 'expected' to be (ie in Germany when expected to be in UK), the GPS lock took 5 minutes instead of the usual 30 secs as it had to update it's GPS register. What is 5 minutes rather than untold time of being lost in a foreign country with appointments to get to on time?


The following will help you understand the issues you're having:

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/ttffproblems.php
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/howgpsworks.php


You need to get a GPS lock BEFORE setting off. If you don't, the GPS device is continulally trying to get the info needed for a lock. A lock should only take a few minutes providing:

-Don't move location until fix is established. If you do, you'll be fighting the sat aquisition and TTFF will be greatly increase (as you experience)
-You are outside, away from any tall buildings or overhead obstructions (ie tree cover) - SirfStar3/Xtrac2 devices can overcome this as they can use 'bounced signals' to get a quick FTF but will still need time to equate the info
-If you have a coated or heated screen you get the lock outside the vehicle, or site the reciever in the uncoated area (normally behind the rear view mirror - or use external aerial.
-Some devices use a battery backup to retain GPS sat loaction data. Many of these only have a limited life of a few days (wired & CF receivers) where as wireless receivers will last as long as the main operating batteries do.


Hope this helps.